Homes plan scrapped
DEVELOPER SCRAPS BID TO BUILD HOUSING ON SITE OF COUNTY HALL
PLANS for hundreds of new homes in Northumberland have been scrapped after the developer pulled out of the scheme.
More than 1,700 people objected to proposals for a retail park, 200 homes and a £5.7m school on the current County Hall site in Morpeth.
But their pleas fell on deaf ears and Northumberland County Council gave the three applications the green light.
Last month, the plans were called in by the Secretary of State Sajid Javid.
Now, the council has confirmed the Home Group has withdrawn their application.
A council spokesman said: “Home Group has advised us they no longer wish to progress with their scheme following the call-in of the planning decision on the County Hall site.
“We remain committed to progressing alternative options for the site.
“We are concerned at the loss of a significant capital receipt which would have benefited all council tax payers in Northumberland.”
David Holden, of the South Morpeth Coalition residents’ group, welcomed the news saying it was a “victory” for the people of Morpeth.
He said: “The Morpeth Neighbourhood Plan is clear that housing is not an appropriate use for the site and the 200 houses were simply not needed.
“The whole process was a shambles and there were more than 1,700 objections, compared to only one letter of support.
“The loss of a capital receipt is entirely the fault of the council and is a result of pursuing a scheme that had no merit in planning terms. “South Morpeth Coalition always believed that Home Group’s plans would not stand up to the independent scrutiny of a public inquiry.” The public inquiry is being arranged by the planning inspectorate but a date has not yet been set by the Government. The council said that the plans for the retail park and school will still go before the inquiry. Once it has concluded, a report will be presented to Mr Javid who will make the final decision.
The whole process was a shambles and there were more than 1,700 objections compared to only one letter of support. David Holden